Bent brim syndrome
The most common debate among we fitted baseball cap enthusiasts seems to be that of sticker variety: do you keep it on or take it off? But another trend that seems to be gaining some traction is the bending of the brim either in the middle or at the base of the hat, similar to the pushed up brims of a cyclist cap a la Wesley Snipes in “White Men Can’t Jump”.
It has been my experience that most fitted cap connoisseurs like to keep the brim of their fitted hats flat (which just so happens to be the opposite of how I like my booties but that’s neither here nor there). I don’t know when the tide started changing or if these occurrences are limited to certain areas of the world and is not as wide spread as I believe but I definitely feel as if I’m seeing it more often than before.
As you can see in the picture above I am clearly on the bent brim bandwagon but I only do it with my older (and visibly worn in) fitteds because I just don’t have the stones to do it to any of my newer joints. I think it looks pretty dope and, to be honest, at its core the “bent brim” topic is strictly one of vanity since there doesn’t seem to be any practical reason for anyone to do so. I could maybe see a baseball player doing it to improve his line of sight but that’s about it (and that’s a BIG maybe). Besides, when done for an extended period of time it puts a bit of a crease in the middle of the front two panels of the hat (see accompanying photo) which may or may not be a desirable effect. I don’t mind it but I guess it just depends on the wearer.
But at any rate, where do you personally stand on the topic of bending one’s brim: do you like it, do you love it, are you indifferent to the subject or is the “Bent Brim Syndrome” a bain to your existence?
Photo credit: Peezo.
KJ runs the website H1GHER LEARNING, which is dedicated to the proper documentation of Southern streetwear culture. More insights and opinions than product shots and release dates (if you’re into that kind of thing) so read at your own risk. You can virtually stalk him on Twitter too.
